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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. E. PRALL.

RADIATOR.

No. 386,556. I Patent-ed July 24, 1888.

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l atx N. PETERS. PhoiLilhogmpMr, Wnhington. ILC.

- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. E. PRALL.

RADIATOR.

No. 386,556. Patented July 24, 1888.

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UNiTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

-WILLIAM E. PRALL, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE NATIONAL HEATING COMPANY, OF

NEV YORK, N. Y.

RADIATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 386,556, dated July 24, 1888.

Application filed October 7,1887. Serial No. 251,779. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. PRALL, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements in Radiators, of which thc following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in heatradiators adapted to the use of either steam or hot water, and is fully disclosed in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specitication, in which the same letters of reference indicate like or equivalent parts wherever found throughout the several views.

Figure lis afront elevation of myimproved radiator; Fig. 2, a section of one end ofthe single radiator. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof. Fig. 4 is a section of the end of the double radiator. Fig. 5 is a section of a socket-joint by which two or more radiators are connected. Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views of a detail; and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a series ot' radiators provided with means for admitting the heating mediumsteam or hot water-to either or all of the radiators of a series, as may be desired.

In the construction of this radiator I have endeavored to keep in view the advantage of producing one capable of being used for both steam and hot water and having as few joints as possible, such being always liable to break, and also adding much to the cost of construction. I therefore cast my radiator complete in sections of any number ofhollow bars eonnected at each end,as at C and D, and provided with communicating ports at alternate ends, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 4, in such a manner as to cause the steam or water to pass through the entire length of each and every separate hollow bar constituting the section. The top and bottom ofthe section may also be cast, attached to, or integral with the section, and each may have a passage therein which will communicate with the passages in the hollow bars at the point ofjunction therewith, if desired. The bars may also have a slight inclination toward the lower end or bottom of the radiator, so as to secure perfect and rapid circulation. Small holes will be cast at alter- 5o nate ends, through which the sand core may be removed, and these openings may be closed by ornamental screw-plugs E, and thus one completeconnectionestablished. Theseopenings will afterward serve as means by which the hollow bars may be cleanedl and any deposits that may collect therein removed therefrom.

The heating rnedium-stean'i or hot waterwill be admitted to the radiator by a supply- 6o pipe, a, and escape by means of return-pipe b. XVhen it is desired to construct adouble radiator, the sections may be attached at the lower and upper sides in any manner preferred; but I propose to have it done by means of a ground socket-joint, as shown at d, Figs. 4 and 5. Said joints are to be held together by means of screw-boltsh, passed through lugs Z, cast on each section, or through the socket-joint, which will draw them tightly together. As great convenienee would result from having the sections so constructed as to be capable of separate or joint use, as the conditions might require, I propose in some cases to have them constructed separately and attached only by means of the pipe-connections, as at K, Fig. 4, which are to be provided with cocks or valves, which may be regulated at pleasure, and thus either one may be heated independently, or both together, as required. The 8o separate bars of the radiator may be cast in any ornamental style or shape preferred. Perhaps the diamond shape shown in the drawings would be as desirable as any, that being, however, a matter of choice.

In horizontal radiators composed of a continuous tube of considerable length,or a casting having a continuous passage through which the hot water or steam passes, itis necessary to provide ample means for the dis- 9o charge of the air contained therein. Ifan outlet is provided at the top only, the hot water or steam will drive the air below the outlet down into the lower tubes or passages, and if there is no means provided at the bottom .of 95 the radiator for its egress it will be driven into the return water tube or pipe, and in addition to the usual hammering7 so common in radiators the perfect circulation of the heating medium is seriously interfered with. The air is also lighter than saturated steam, and in this case the steam would have to force its way down through the air unless some ready means for its egress from the tubes or passages' of the radiator were provided, which would also impede circulation. It is also well known that air is continually evolved from hot water, the tendency of which is to work its wayupward toward the top of the vessel in which the water is placed, and it is therefore necessary to provide means at the top of the vessel by which the air may be discharged. I have therefore, in order to secure perfect circulation in all cases and under all circumstances, provided a pipe, x, which connects with the top and bottom bars of the radiator, and this pipe is provided with an escapevalve, x', b y means of which the air is drawn off from both the top and bottom of the radiator and perfeet and unobstructed circulation is' secured.

In Figs. G and 7 is shown a three-way cock, which is arranged at the junction of the branch pipe t' in Fig. 6. leading to the different sections 0l' the radiator, when two or more seetious are used, and by means of which the steam or hot water may be admitted into one section and excluded from the other; or it may be turned inl'o position to admit the heating medium to both by turning the plug a in the barrel m, so that all the `ports are open. A graduated disk over which the handle of the cock moves would indicate to the operator what position the handle should assume in controlling the ilow of the heating medium.

In Fig. S, Sheet 2, I have shown two radi` ators, constructed as herein described, united and provided with this means for supplying hot water or steam to either or both. The pipe fi is in communication with the source of supply ofthe heating medium-steam or hot water-and is provided with a three-way cock, (shown in Fig. 6,) from which pipes a com` municatc with the top of the radiators. The

return-pipes are shown at b, and are also provided with a three-way cock or valve and a single pipe by which the Water of condensation is conveyed from the radiator.

The difficulty of controlling steam by the ordinary cocks or valves now in use is well known, the radiators being either too hot or too cold, which is very annoying and impossible to regulate. By this double radiator the heat may be increased or diminished to suit the Varying weather. The packing o, Fig. 7, is to prevent the escape of steam around the stein I? of the valve, by means of which the plug is turned. The cap S is for the purpose of forcing the packing against the plug and holding the same in position. t

Having fully described my invention, its construction and operation, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

l. The combination, with a radiator consisting of a number 4of hollow bars, the passages therein commnnicating at the alternate ends of the bars, as shown and described, of the airpipe x, connected with the outer or top and bottom bars of the radiator, and provided with the air valve or vent ac', substantially as shown and described. i

2. The combination, with a radiator castin a single piece consisting of separate hollow bars, the passage therein communicating at the alternate ends of the bars, as shown and described, ofthe air-pipe x, connected with the outer or top and bottom bars of the radiator, and provided with the air valve or vent substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of a series of radiators and a supply and return pipe, each of said pipes being provided with a cock or valve having a series of passage-ways and a series of branch pipes, whereby Vthe vheating medium may be supplied to either or all of the radiators and conveyed therefrom, substantially as shown and described.

Signed at the city of New York, in the county of New York and State ofNew York, this 5th day of October, A. D. 1887.

VILLIAM E. PRALL.

Witnesses:

DANIEL E. DELAVAN, FRANK C. F. KNAAK. 

